Impact ejecting ice making apparatus



Jan. 22, 1963 c. c. BAUERLEIN IMPACT EJECTING ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18; 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [nVE'n/Uf' (aw! C Eauer/e in Jan. 22, 1963 c. c. BAUERLEIN 3,074,248

IMPACT EJECTING ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I 39 I0! 3 fnz/E'nfar far! fiauerlev'n C. C. BAUERLEIN IMPACT EJECTING ICE MAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 22, 1963 Filed Jan. 18, 1960 Jan. 22, 1963 c. c. BAUERLEIN IMPACT EJECTING ICE MAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 18, 1960 [EVEN/UP far! 6 Eaaer/ez'n United States Patent f 3,074,248 IMPACT EJECTING ICE MAKING APPARATUS Carl C. Bauerlein, Lincolnwood, 111., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 2,969 5 Claims. (Cl. 62-135) This invention relates to automatic ice making devices of the type which are adapted to be installed within the freezing compartments of household refrigerators and more particularly relates to an impact-ejection type ice making apparatus wherein individual ice blocks are ejected from their respective molds by a hammer-blow produced by release of a compressed spring.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a thermal sensitive power element which is disposed below an ice mold and which is operable upon extensible movement of a power member therefrom to compress a spring and thereafter effect release of the spring to create the hammer-blow which is operable to eject an ice block from the ice mold.

The thermal sensitive power unit is energizable as a function of the rate of cooling of the fluid disposed within the ice mold so that the ejection operation will be initiated as soon as the fluid within the ice mold has solidified but, on the contrary, so that the ejection operation will not be prematurely initiated.

A switch is mechanically associated with the power member so that when the power member has moved to its most retracted position with respect to the power unit a resistor heater surrounding theheat sensitive portion of the power unit will be energized to cause fusion and consequent expansion of the thermally expansible' material encased within the power unit to thereby initiate extensible movement of the power member from the power unit. Switch means are also associated with the thermal sensitive element heater so that the heater will be deenergized when the ejecting operation is completed. Spring means are then operable to return the power member to a retracted position with respect to the thermal sensitive element upon cooling of the fusible thermally expansible material within the power unit.

Water within the ice mold is frozen into an ice block during the interval betwen the ejecting operation and the time when the power member moves to its most retracted position with respect to the thermal sensitive element. By permitting cooling of the fusible thermally expansible material within the thermal sensitive element at approximately the same rate as the water within the ice molds, ejection of ice blocks will take place almost as soon as they have become completely frozen and ice block production will thus proceed as rapidly as is possible.

Since retractable movement of the power member with respect to the thermal sensitive element is generally effected in a short interval than is required for freezing of water in an ice mold a means must be provided for slowing the cooling cycle of the thermal sensitive element. To slow down the cycle of operation of the thermal sensitive element I have encased the heat sensitive portion of the element within a cylinder of soapstone (insulating material) so that movement of the power member to a retracted position with respect to the thermal sensitive element will be delay until the water within the ice mold has had time to freeze. Of course, a water heat sink or the like may be used as an insulator instead of soap-stone.

Since the thermal sensitive element is located directly beneath the ice mold, straight line ejecting motion is possible thereby minimizing power loss and multiplicity of parts.

Extensible movement of the power member from the thermal sensitive element is also operable to control the 3,074,248 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 operation of a slug valve which is utilized for filling the ice mold with liquid to a desired level.

It will further be noted that the an ice livel sensing arm is associated with the slug valve which is operable during each ejecting cycle of the ice making apparatus to sense the level of ice blocks within a collection tray. A master switch operable to control energization of the entire ice making assembly is associated with the ice making apparatus which is operated as a function of the rotated position of the ice sensing arm during certain time intervals. The master switch is generally closed to effect energization of the entire ice making assembly but is opened only during those instances when the sensing arm senses that the ice blocks within the collection tray have reached a predetermined level and when the arm is consequently prevented from returning to its normal position.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved form of ice making apparatus wherein frozen ice blocks are ejected from their respective molds by an impact shock and wherein the impact is effected by means of a loaded compression spring and an associated temperature sensitive power source.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a thermal sensitive power unit for effecting the impact-ejecting operation which is operable as a function of the rate of freezing or cooling of liquid Within the ice mold.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for sensing the level of ice blocks within a collection tray which is operable to shut oif the power supply to the entire ice making apparatus when the ice blocks within the collection tray have reached a predetermined level.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of an ice making assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention which illustrates an associated slug valve in side elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of an ice mold and its respective ejecting mechanism illustrating the slug valve in side elevation which is similar in nature to FIG- URE 1 but which shows several of the actuating components in a different position;

FIGURE 3 is another view which is similar in nature to FIGURES 1 and 2 but which illustrates the impact ejecting mechanism in an ice block ejecting position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view through the slug valve illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 which is taken along lines IVIV of FIGURE 2 and which illustrates the ice sensing arm in a first position;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the slug valve which illustrates the ice sensing lever and its associated operating mechanism in a different position;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of a wiring circuit such as might be employed for effecting operation of the ice making apparatus herein described; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal view taken along lines VIIVII of FIGURE 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URE l, a mold block It is mounted on the insulated side wall 11 of a freezing compartment 12. The mold block 10 is formed of a block of good thermally conductive material such as aluminum or the like and has a frustoconically shaped ice mold 13 formed therein which is apertured at the radially reduced end of the frustum as indicated at 14.

A bearing seal 15, which is illustrated in cross section, is fitted within the aperture 14 and acts as a seat for a pair of seal rings 16 which are fitted against the lower surface thereof. The bearing seal and the seal rings 16 are adapted to slidably receive an ejector pin 17. The ejector pin 17 has a rounded upper surface N which forms the base wall of the frusto-conically shaped ice mold 13'. A compression spring 19, which may be a 15 or 17 pound spring,'encircles the ejector pin 17 and has one end seated on the seal rings 16 and its opposite end seated on a diametrically enlarged annular flange 23 at the base of the ejector pin 27 which is formed integrally with the pin 17. An immovable retaining ring 21 is fitted .within the bore 22 which forms a seat for the ejector pin 17.

Upward movement of the ejector pin 17 will act to break the bond between an ice block and the side wall of the ice mold 13 by a shearing action. It has also been found in practice that by applying a hammer-blow to the ejector pin 17 an ice block will be completely dislodged from the ice mold 13 and will be thrown or ejected therefrom. After the ejector pin 17 has been moved upwardly within the bore 22 the compression spring 19 will then act to return the pin 17 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein it is bottomed on the retaining ring 21. In order to insure proper release of an ice block from the mold 13 without cracking the ice block I have fouhd itdesirable to coat the surface of the mold 13 with a fine coating of Teflon or the'lilce. Such a coating is indicated in the drawings at 13a.

The means for applying a hammer-blow to the ejector pin 17 is hereafter described in detail. A hammer 25 is slidably received within the bore 22 and has a compression spring 26 fitted around the upper radially reduced end portion 27 thereof. The compression spring 26 is seated at its opposite end against the retaining ring 21 so that it normally acts to bias the hammer 25 downwardly within the bore 22.

- A thermal sensitive power unit 31? is mounted on the mold block it? by means of a plurality of brackets 31 which depend from the lower surface of the block it The power unit comprises, in general, a heat sensitive. portion 32 which contains a fusible thermally expansible material, a guide portion 33, and a power member 34 which is guided for reciprocable movement within the guide 33 and which is extensible from the guide upon fusion and consequent expansion of the heat sensitive material disposed within the sensing portion 32. The guide 33 and power member 34 extend upwardly within the bore 22 and are disposed in coaxial alignment with the ejector pin 17v The hammer 25 is internally bored as at 36 to provide the power member 34 with relative freedom of move ment therein. The power member 34 has an annular per ipheral groove formed therearound which is adapted to receive the upper end portion of a spring stirrup 37 to operably connect the stirrup with the power member so that they will move with one another. The spring stirrup 37 fits slidably over the outer surface of the guide portion 33 and terminates in an annular flange 39. A disk 40 is seated on the outturned flange 39 for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent and acts as a seat for apair of compression springs 41 and 42. The compres sion spring 41 abuts a shoulder of the mold block ltd at its upper end portion and for illustrative purposes may be described as having a compressive strength in the magnitude of 15 pounds.

The spring 42, however, has its upper end portion seated against the lowermost portion of the hammer 25 and constitutes the ejector spring and has a compressive Strength in the magnitude of 65 pounds. The ejector spring 42 is, therefore, operable to effect the actual ejecting operation while the spring 41 is operable to return the power member 34 to its most retracted position as will hereinafter become apparent.

The side wall of the mold block ll} is apertured as indicated at E4 to slidably receive a spring-urged detent' 45. The detent 45 is also receivable Within all apartufe 46 formed in the side wall of the hammer 25 to prevent axial movement thereof. A cap 47 is fitted on the mold block It? at the outermost end of the bore 44 which serves as a seat for a compression spring 49 which, in turn, abuts the outermost end of the detent 45 to urge the detent to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. A spherically'shaped detent-ball 50 is disposed within the bore 46 and is maintained therein by the peened edges of the mold block defining each end of the bore.

The upper end of the power member 34 has a cam surface 52 formed thereon which is operable to engage the ball 50 upon upward movement of the power member to urge the ball, and consequently the detent 45, to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1.

Upward or extensible movement of the power member 34 with respectto the power unit 38 will carry the spring stirrup 37 upwardly to effect compression of the springs 41 and .42. The hammer 25 will be prevented from being moved upwardly by the spring 42 due to the positioning of the detent 45 within the bore 46. However, upon movement of the cam surface 52 of power member 34 into engagement with the detent-ball'Stl the ball will be urged to the left within the bore 46 to thereby move the detent 45 against the opposing biasing force of spring 49 until the detent has finally moved entirely out of the bore 46. Since the inner circumference of the hammer 25 is only slightly greater than the outer circumference of the power member 34 the ball 50 and detent will be moved sufliciently far to the left to entirely remove the detent d5'from the bore 46 when the power member 34 has moved upwardly to a point wherein the lowermost portion of the cam face 52 has moved into engagement with the ball 50. At such time the spring 42 will be under considerable compression so that at the instant when the detent 45 is removed from the bore 46 the hammer 25 will be snapped upwardly by the spring 42 within the bore 22.

Movement of the hammer 25 into engagement with the a lower surface of the ejector pin 17 will act to hammer the ejector pin 17 upwardly with a substantial force to break the bond between the walls of an ice block and the mold cavity 13 to dislodge the ice block within the mold and, in fact, to throw the ice block out of the mold.

Thereafter, if the thermal sensitive power unit 30 is permitted to cool, the return spring 41 will act to return the power member 34 to its most retracted position as is illustrated in FIGURE 1 and springs H and 26 will act, in turn, to return the'ejector pin 17 and hammer 25, respectively, to their normal positions as is illustrated in FIGURE 1. Upon return movement of the hammer 25 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 the spring 49 will act to urge the detent 453' into the bore 46 and to move the 'detent ball '54} to its normal-position.

A resistor heater 58 is wound about the heat sensitive portion 32 of the power unit 30 to provide a means for effecting heatin. thereof to effect extensible movement of the power member 34 from the guide 33. Referring more particularly to FIGURE 6 the resistor heater 58 is energizable through a snap action switch 642. The switch 60 comprises an electrically conductive leaf spring 61 which is mounted within the switch casing '62 so that it is bowed. A pair of opposed contacts 63 and 64 are mounted within the switch casing 62 slightly off center of the leaf spring 61 so that when pressure is applied to one or the other surfaces of the leaf spring 61 the spring will be snapped into engagement with one of the contacts and out of engagement with the other. A motion translation rod 65 is connected't othe annular flange 39 and depends therefrom through a central aperture 67 formed in the electrically conductive leaf spring 61. A pair of spaced abutment members 69 and 73 are disposed on the rod 65 which are engageable with the leafspring 61 to snap the spring to one of its two positions.

It willthus be noted that when the power member 34 has moved to its most retracted position (that is when the flange 39 has moved to its lowermost position) the member 69 will have moved into engagement with the leaf spring 61 to snap the spring to the positions shown in full lines in FIGURE 6. When the leaf spring is snapped to the full line position the spring will have moved into engagement with the stationary contact 64 so that the resistor heater 58 will be energized to heat the temperature sensitive portion 32 of the power unit 30 and thereby effect extensible movement of the power member 34 from guide 33.

The member 70 is spaced from member 69 a suificient distance so that the spring blade 61 will remain in contact with stationary contact 64 until after the power member 34 has released the detent 45 from the hammer 25. At this point in the cycle of operation the member 70 will move into engagement with the spring blade 61 to snap the blade from the position illustrated out of engagement with stationary contact 64 and into engagement with contact 63 to effect deenergization of the resistor heater 58.

Upon deenergization of the resisitor heater 58 the thermal sensitive material within sensing portion 32 will cool to permit retractable movement of the power member 34. As hereinbefore noted, return movement of power member 34 is effected by means of return spring 41.

Since a new ejecting cycle will be initiated as soon as the power member 34 has moved to a position to eflect energization of the resistor heater 58, return movement of the power member 34 must be slowed down. The cool-down of the power unit 30 is delayed by means of a cylinder of soapstone 59 (compressed talc) which is fitted about the heat sensitive portion 32 of power unit 30. While I have found that soapstone is a desirable material to use, any other suitable insulator might be used in its place. The soapstone is of such a mass as to slow down cooling of the heat sensitive portion 32 to a predetermined rate so that the interval required for the power member 34 to move from its most extended to its most retracted position is only slightly greater than the time required for fluid within the ice mold 13 to freeze. The cycle of operation of the ejecting mechanism can thus be determined so that the time interval required for the power element to move from its extended to its retracted position can be rendered substantially equal to or greater than the time required for liquid within the ice mold to freeze into an ice block, thus assuring the rapid production of ice blocks.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 4, the slug valve which is used for filling the ice mold 13 comprises generally a two-part body including a valve section 80 and a cap 81. A flexible diaphragm 82 having a plate 93 embedded therein extends across the interior of a fluid chamber 83 formed intermediate the upper and lower sections and has a peripheral bead 84 which is fitted within an annular groove 85 formed in the upper peripheral edge portion of the section 80. The cap 81 is fitted on top of the section 80 to maintain the peripheral bead 84 in the groove 85 and has its edges crimped over the upper end portion of section 80 to maintain the various parts in fluid tight relation with respect to one another. An inlet passage 86 is formed within the section 80 which is communicable with an inlet 87 which is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized fluid. A port 88 communicates the passage 86 with inlet 87 and has a reciprocable poppet valve 89 disposed therein which is operable to control fiuid flow therethrough. The valve 89 has a stem 90 extending through the port 88 extending exteriorily of section 80. A compression spring 91 has one end seated against the valve 89 and its opposite end seated against an annular shoulder, formed with the connecting nipple for the inlet 87, which is operable to normally bias the poppet valve 89 to a closed position with respect to the port 88. Depression of the stem will, however, act to move the valve 89 against the opposing biasing force of spring 91 to open communication between the inlet 87 and passageway 86 to permit fluid to flow into the chamber 83.

A compression spring 92 is fitted within the chamber formed between the diaphragm 82 and the cap 81 which has one end seated against the cap and its opposite end seated against the diaphragm to normally bias the diaphragm 82 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Upon opening of the inlet valve 89, fluid under pressure will move through passage 86 into the chamber 83 and effect compression of the spring 92 to thereby enlarge the volumetric capacity of fluid chamber 83.

A passage 95 opens from the chamber 83 and is communicable through a port 96 with the slug valve outlet 97. A poppet valve 98 having a stem 99 extending therefrom through the port 96 to the exterior of the section 80 is cooperable with the port 96 to control fluid flow therethrough and is operable in the same manner as the inlet valve 89. Upon closure of the inlet valve 89 and subsequent opening of the outlet valve 98 the compression spring 92 will act to move the diaphragm 82 to decrease the volumetric capacity of chamber 8 3 and force fluid through the outlet 97 and filler spout 97a to the ice mold 13. In this manner the quantity of fluid dispensed into the ice mold 13 may be exactly determined.

The pins 90 and 99 are alternately depressed as a function of the position of the power member 34 in the following manner: A depending leg 100 of the lower section 80 has a lever 101 pivotally mounted thereon by means of a pin 102. Medially pivotally connected to the lever 101 is a relatively small cam lever 103 which, as illustrated in FIGURE 7 has an inturned arm 104 which, in turn, has a cam face formed on the innermost end thereof which is engageable with the outermost end of pin 90. A small tension spring 106 interconnects the free end of the cam lever 103 with the lever 101 to bias the cam lever to its most clockwise rotated position wherein it abuts a portion of the lever 101.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 1, 4 and 7, counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever 101 will act to move the cam face into engagement with pin 90 to depressionally move the pin 90 to open the inlet poppet valve 89 and permit filling of the fluid chamber 83 within the slug valve. After the lever 101 has been pivoted in a counterclockwise direction a suflicient degree so that the cam face 105 moves off of the pin 90 the pin and its associated valve 89 will be returned to the positions illustrated in FIGURE 4 by the compression spring 91. Upon subsequent return clockwise movement of the lever 101 the rear face of the arm 104 will strike the pin 90 and rotate the cam lever 103 in a counterclockwise direction against the opposing biasing force of spring member 106. After the member 101 has rotated to a sufiicient degree the cam lever 103 will then be permitted to be moved back to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 1 by spring 106.

The upper end of the lever 101 is angularly disposed with respect to the lowermost portion thereof and has a dished cam face 108 formed at the upper end thereof which is cooperable with the pin 99 to effect depressional movement thereof to open the outlet valve 98.

A tension spring 109 interconnects the upper free end of the lever 101 with the side wall 11 so that the lever 101 is generally biased in the clockwise rotated position illustrated in FIGURE 1 into engagement with an outwardly extending stop 110 which is aflixed to the leg 100 and extends outwardly therefrom.

As again shown most clearly in FIGURE 1, a motion translation rod 111 is pivotally connected to the lever 101 and has its opposite end received within bores 112 and 113 formed in the side wall 11 and the mold block 10, respectively, and in registry with one another. The

innermost end of the motion translation rod 111has a cam face 114 formed thereon which is cooperable with amating camface 115 formed on an outwardly extending leg 116 of the member il) to transmit reciprocable movement of the power member 34 to the lever M1.

The entire ice making assembly is rendered sensitive to the-level of ice blocks disposed within a collection tray by means of an ice level sensing-arm 12d as is illust in FIGURES 4 and 5. The sensing arm 12% comprises an elongated rod which is journalled within the side wall 11 of the freezing compartment 12 and which has an elongated leg 121 situated Within the freezing compartment 12 which, in turn, has .a sphere 122 mounted on the outer end thereof that is movable into and out of engagement with ice blocks within the collection tray. A switch 123 is mounted on one end of the rod 121 which has a plunger 124 extending outwardly therefrom; the reciprocable movement of which controls actuation of the switch 123. As showndiagrammatically in FIGURE 6 the movable contact 125 of the switch 123 is normally biased to an open circuit position by means of a spring 1% while depressional movement of the plunger 124 acts to close the circuit through the switch.

A rod 127 is centrally afiixed to the diaphragm 32 and is slidably guided within a suitable receivingaperture in the cap 81. A bracket 128 is affixed to the uppermost endof the rod 127 and has a depending leg 129 extending therefrom which terminates in a bent arm 13h disposed adjacent the switch 123. A tension spring 131 Servesto interconnect the bent portion 139 of bracket 128 with the switch 123 so that the two members are normally urged into juxtaposition with one another thereby effecting depression of the plunger 124 and causing the. circuit through the switch to normally be closed.

It will beunderstood that the outermost end of the rod 121 which carries the sphere 122 is disposed over an ice block collection tray. As hereinbefore noted, each time the inlet valve 89 is opened, fluid under pressure will .flow into the chamber 83 to raise the diaphragm 82. Upward movement of the diaphragm 82 will move the rod 127 and consequently the bracket 128 upwardly also. The bent portion of the bracket 128 which contacts the plunger 124 will at such time act as a cam to pivot the ice level sensing arm 120 in a counterclockwise direction. Subsequently, upon opening of the outlet valve 98 the diaphragm 82 will be moved downwardly to decrease the volumetric capacity of chamber 83 so that the rod 127, and consequently bracket 1Z8, willmove downwardly also. Suchpdownward movement of bracket 12% will act through the ten'sionspring 131to return the sensing arm 124) to a clockwise rotated position. The tension spring 131 will generally act to hold member 130 and switch 123 in juxtaposition with one another so that the plunger 124 will at 'all times be depressed to close theenergizing circuit ith'rough the switch. If, however, upon return movement of the ice sensing arm 12%, that arm should strike ice blocks at the level illustrated in FIGURE further return clockwise movement of the sensing arm will be prevented. The diaphragm 82, rod 127 and bracket 128 will nonetheless continue to move downwardly against the spring 131 so that the portion 130 of bracket 128 and switch 123 will moverelativelyaway from one another. At such time the spring 126 in switch 123 will ac'tto move the movable contact 125 to an open circuit position. Thus, further energization of the resistor heater 5% about the thermal sensitive power unit 3i} will be prevented so that the operation of the entire ice making assembly will cease until the level of ice blocks within the collection tray has been lowered to permit further clockwise return movement of the ice sensing arm 12%. t

In view of'the foregoing the device functions substantially as follows: Assuming that the movablecontact 125 in switch 123 is initially in a closedcircuit position and that the switch blade 61 is in the full line position, en-

ergization. of heater coil 58 will act to effect extensible movement of the power member 34. The power member 34- will move upwardly within the interior of the hammer 25 until it contacts the detent ball 5!) to move the detent BS-out of the aperture 46. Movement of the detent out of this aperture or bore 46 will release the hammer 25 so that the compressedspring 42 will throw the hammer 25 upwardly into engagement with the ejector pin 17 to dislodge, by a hammering action, an ice block in the ice mold 13. The ice block dislodged from mold 13 will be thrown from the mold due to the impact of the ejector pin 17 into a suitable collection tray (not shown).

Upon the upward stroke of the power member 34 the cam face of member 40 (which is carried upwardly with the power member 34) will act against the cam face 114 of motion translation rod 111 to move the rod to the left to pivot the lever 101 in a counterclockwise direction against the opposing biasing force of spring 109. Counterclockwise pivotal movement of lever 101 will first act through the cam lever 103 to cause depression of the pin 99 to fill the fluid chamber 83 within the slug valve. As the power member 34 reaches the uppermost end of its stroke the cam lever 103 will have been moved past the pin 96 to permit closure of the inlet valve 89 and the cam surfaces 103 of lever 101 will be moving into engagement with pin so. As the cam surface 168 moves into engagement with the pinfi? the pin will be depressed to open the outlet valve 98 to permit filling of the ice mold 13 in the manner which has hereinbefore been described. At this point in the cycle of operation member 70 in switch 653 will contact the spring blade 61 to snap the blade out of engagement with contact 64 to effect deenergization of the resistor heater 58. The power member 34 willthen be returned to its retracted position in the manner which has hereinbefore been described and the lever 191 and rod 111 will similarly be returned to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 by the tension spring 189. When the cam surface 1% moves out of engagement with the pin $9 the outlet valve from the slug valve will be closed so that the components will'all be positioned for another cycle of operation.

As hereinbctore noted the ice level sensing arm will normally rise and fall with each filling and dispensing cycle of the slug valve and will be operable to cause opening-of the circuit through the switch 123 only when the ice blocks within the collection tray have reached a predetermined level.

Itwill be understood that this embodiment of the invention has beenused for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications and variations in the present invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and'scope of the novel concepts thereof.

1 claim as my invention:

1. An ice making apparatus comprising a support having an ice mold for containing liquid to be frozen into ice blocks formed therein and disposed within a freezing compartment, the side walls of said ice mold converging toward an apertured base, an ejector pin slidably mounted in the apertured base, a hammer guided within said sup port having relative movement with respect to said ejector pin and axially aligned with said pin, a thermal sensitive power unit mounted on said support having an element extensible therefrom during predetermined ambient temperature conditions about the temperature sensitive portion of said power unit, said element being coaxially aligned with said hammer and pin, a compression spring interconnecting said element with said hammer, means for holding said hammer in spaced relation from said pin, and means for energizing said power unit to efiect compression of said spring and subsequent release of said hammer to move said pin to eject an ice block from said ice mold. r

2. An ice making apparatus comprising a support having an ice mold for containing liquid to be frozen into ice blocks formed therein and disposed within a freezing compartment, the side walls of said ice mold converging toward an apertured base, an ejector pin slidably mounted in the apertured base, a hammer guided within said support having relative movement with respect to said ejector pin and axially aligned with said pin, a thermal sensitive power unit mounted on said support having an element extensible therefrom during predetermined ambient temperature conditions about the temperature sensitive portion of said power unit, said element being coaxially aligned with said hammer and pin, a compression spring interconnecting said element with said hammer, means for holding said hammer in spaced relation from said pin, and means for effecting energization of said power unit as a function of variances in ambient temperature about said power unit to compress said spring and subsequently release said hammer to move said pin to eject an ice block from said ice mold.

3. An ice making apparatus comprising a support having an ice mold for containing liquid to be frozen into ice blocks formed therein and disposed within a freezing compartment, the side walls of said ice mold converging toward an apertured base, an ejector pin slidably mounted in the apertured base, a hammer guided within said support having relative movement with respect to said ejector pin and axially aligned with said pin, a thermal sensitive power unit mounted on said support having an element extensible therefrom during predetermined ambient temperature conditions about the temperature sensitive portion of said power unit, said element being coaxially aligned with said hammer and pin, a compression spring interconnecting said element with said hammer, means for holding said hammer in spaced relation from said pin, means for efiecting energization of said power unit as a function of variances in ambient temperature about said power unit to compress said spring and subsequently release said hammer to move said pin to eject an ice block from said mold, and means operable to fill said ice mold with a predetermined quantity of liquid subsequent to the ejection of an ice block therefrom as a function of the position of said element relative to said power unit.

4. An ice making apparatus comprising a support having an ice mold for containing liquid to be frozen into ice blocks formed therein and disposed within a freezing compartment, the side walls of said ice mold converging toward an apertured base, an ejector pin slidably mounted in the apertured base a hammer guided within said support having relative movement with respect to said ejector pin and axially aligned with said pin, a thermal sensitive power unit mounted on said support having an element extensible therefrom during predetermined ambient temperature conditions about the temperature sensitive portion of said power unit, said element being coaxially aligned with said hammer and pin, means biasing said element to a retracted position with respect to said power unit, a compression spring interconnecting said element with said hammer, means for holding said hammer in spaced relation from said pin, means for energizing said power unit to effect compression of said spring and subsequent release of said hammer to move said pin to eject an ice block from said ice mold, means for energizing said power unit when said element has moved to the retracted end of its stroke and for deenergizing same subsequent to release of said hammer, and means for correlating the time interval required for said element to move from its extended to its retracted position with the time required for liquid within said ice mold to freeze into an ice block.

5. An ice making apparatus comprising an ice cup having an element defining a portion of the bottom wall thereof slidably mounted within said ice cup, means for fillin said ice cup with fluid and thereafter freezing the fluid into an ice block, a thermal sensitive power unit disposed beneath said ice cup having a power element extensible therefrom during predetermined ambient temerature conditions about the temperature sensitive portion of said power unit, said power element being co axially aligned with said first mentioned element, means biasing said power element to a retracted position with respect to said power unit, means for transmitting extensible movement of said power element to said first mentioned element to hammer said first element to effect ejection of an ice block from said ice cup, means for energizing said power unit to efiect slidable movement of said first element within said ice cup, means for energizing said power unit when said power element has moved to the retracted end of its stroke and for deenergizing same subsequent to its movement to the extended end of its stroke, and means insulating the heat sensitive portion of said power unit to correlate the time interval required for said power element to move from its extended to its retracted position with the time required for liquid within said ice mold to freeze into an ice block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 921,370 Degener May 11, 1909 2,138,058 Bauer Nov. 29, 1938 2,161,321 Smith June 6, 1939 2,389,317 Kitto Nov. 20, 1945 2,522,651 Van Vleck Sept. 19, 1950 2,808,707 Chace Oct. 8, 1957 2,947,156 Roedter Aug. 2, 1960 2,981,079 Fink Apr. 25, 1961 

1. AN ICE MAKING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORT HAVING AN ICE MOLD FOR CONTAINING LIQUID TO BE FROZEN INTO ICE BLOCKS FORMED THEREIN AND DISPOSED WITHIN A FREEZING COMPARTMENT, THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID ICE MOLD CONVERGING TOWARD AN APERTURED BASE, AN EJECTOR PIN SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE APERTURED BASE, A HAMMER GUIDED WITHIN SAID SUPPORT HAVING RELATIVE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID EJECTOR PIN AND AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID PIN, A THERMAL SENSITIVE POWER UNIT MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT HAVING AN ELEMENT EXTENSIBLE THEREFROM DURING PREDETERMINED AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE PORTION OF SAID POWER UNIT, SAID ELEMENT BEING COAXIALLY 